December 9-16, 2004

music

icepack

by A.D. Amorosi

Last week, I enjoyed several new spectator sports. There's nothing like watching people sell off Pixies tickets. Call it The Pixie Slip. Akin to watching the stock market plummet, it was as if the mark of the true hipster doofuscenti was not going to Camden in the freezing cold to hear two versions of "Wave of Mutilation." Are we done with The Pixies? Can we pretend to get excited about someone else old and chubby—Hüsker Dü, maybe? The other sport was the crouch of embarrassment performed by many in Philly media: Spam-mad former WHYY chick Rachel Buchman went bonkers on Laptoplobbyist.com (which should be grateful someone noticed, let alone wished them dead); PW publisher Nancy Stuski pulled a Christopher Cross and rode like the wind; Joe Kirschen sold Rockpile (I know there must be something funny here, but I just can't remember what Rockpile is); and the kicker was hearing the next issue of the Philadelphia Independent, approaching its third year of broadsheet banter, would/could be publisher Matt Schwartz's last. Dude! It's the Philly Mag curse—get mentioned as a hipster doofuscenti in its once-a-decade-or-so "cool" issue and it's like you're wearing the Fregosi Emerald. What no one noticed amid the hubbub was that TLA Releasing was getting stuff done: a deal with Tartan Films and director Greg (Doom Generation) Araki to theatrically release his production of Scott Heim's novel Mysterious Skin as well as getting it accepted to the Sundance Film Fest, TLA's first Sundance flick. Also for theatrical release, TLA Releasing is taking on Roc-a-fella Films' Death Of A Dynasty, directed by Damon Dash and starring Capone, Lorraine Bracco, Mariah Carey, Jay-Z and Sean Combs. TLA honchos Ray Murray and Rich Wolff also went on a buying spree in Rio and picked up The Man Who Copied, a film that swept the Brazilian Oscars. "We can't discuss exact terms, but with the Araki film we really stepped up to the plate financially," said Wolff. "And nothing comes cheap with Damon Dash." Wolff would only say each film was bought for under two million buckaroos. Plus, dicks all around: TLA Releasing just published its wall-covering 2005 Gay Movie Calendar of nude-ish men from TLA flicks like Fluffer. … Getting a Wood-y: Lee Daniels and Kevin Bacon, producers of The Woodsman, are rumored to be premiering the Philly-shot film Jan. 12 at The Prince Theater. Cashman & Associates will help in the party department. Bacon's co-star/missus Kyra Sedgwick is confirmed to show. Also, look for Rock School, Don Argott's film based on local teacher Paul Green, to gets its New Market Films premiere at Sundance 2005. … WHOWHATWHERE: Nancy Sinatra got Sara Sherr of Sugar Town booking fame to sing Nancy's hit of the same name at her World Café Live show. When he's not busy shooting Annapolis fight scenes with co-star James Franco at the Blue Horizon, Tyrese likes to hit Chickie's & Pete's, where he was spotted at a Bob Pantano oldies party with Frank Kerbeck. Tyrese: nothing but class. Colorful Philadelphia University grad Jay McCarroll can be spied, weekly, on Bravo's new Project Runway, where hopefully he'll cut the vocal cords from host Heidi Klum's throat. Nazi haircuts? Tight-fitting suits? Musta been Franz Ferdinand at the Vice label tour at Silk City. Jesse Jackson had dinner with University of Pennsylvania professor Michael Eric Dyson at Pod after lecturing Dyson's Marvin Gaye class. Restaurateur Jeffrey Chodorow hit the opening of his Red Square Atlantic City at "The Quarter" at the Tropicana. Pixies' drummer David Lovering hung out alone at Bar Noir Sunday night, doing card tricks for new manager Bill McGhee. … How many has-beens can one NFL team take? First, Nicolette Sheridan. Now, Jaleel "Urkel" White was spied with Eagles' Freddie Mitchell at Anjou. Yet, even that lowly level couldn't be attained at Knowlton Mansion where WIP co-sponsored Terrell Owens' 31st birthday party. Rather than invited guests like Mariah, T.O. got Chi McBride, a guy from B2K, Gabrielle Union and Tyrese, who'll obviously go anywhere. If WIP throws your 31st b-day party on Rhawn Street, 32 won't look so good. … Drag comics Brittany Lynn, Beyonda Belief and DJ Reenie Kane start their weekly party at Valanni Dec. 14. Its name? "C.U.N.extT.uesday." I'M SO THERE! … Give Cordalene and One Star Hotel money, Dec. 11, at The Parlour (1170 S. Broad St.). They need to replace equipment stolen from their rehearsal space. … Tony Sparacino wants cash, too. Not for clothes. The Sparacino Mens shop owner hosts a party Dec. 9 at his 13th Street shop to benefit Sapphire Fund for Philly's gay/lesbian community. … You want to be part of a live album don'tchoo? Former Philadelphian Skip Heller and his Hammond organ-based band are doing a live recording at Tritone, Dec. 12. Get there at 8 p.m. sharp. … Along with wishing hairdresstrix Natasha Vega and hostess-with-mostest Michelle Walser happy birthdays, a big shout to birthday boy Steve Haley—whose Trashlight Vision shot a video at the Silo in Reading—and to Helen Back (aka Jimi Mooney) whose alter ego will celebrate his 40th at Bar Noir Dec. 13 with members of Undergirl, Union Dead and Back's glam band singing Mooney's praises.